What Ukraine's Gas Crisis Has In Common With Gaza

When asked by Martin Scorsese to tone down his mobster character in The Departed, Jack Nicholson is said to have told the director, "I don't do subtle." The same could be said for Israel and Russia, which both find themselves in the familiar position of being accused of bullying their smaller neighbors. The parallels actually go further. Israel's actions in Gaza are aimed at preventing future attacks but also at making life difficult to turn the Palestinians against Hamas, which refuses to recognize Israel. Similarly, Russia's shutoff of gas supplies to Ukraine is aimed at charging higher prices but also at shaping Kiev's elections next year toward its liking. By shutting off the Ukrainians' heat, they may vote out the pro-Western president in favor of someone more pro-Kremlin.

But the trouble with Israel and Russia is not that their efforts will backfire, it's that they will likely achieve the exact opposite of their goals -- while both governments come off looking like unhinged bullies in the process. Sending troops into Gaza only solidifies popular support for Hamas, whose popularity among Palestinians had started to slide prior to the Israel's invasion. When Russia turns off Ukraine's gas supply, President Viktor Yushchenko, whose popularity has waned in recent months, can more easily make the case that Ukraine should orient itself toward Europe, not Russia.

To be fair, Israel and Russia both have legitimate grievances--Hamas lobs missiles into Israeli population centers; Ukraine siphons off gas supplies and owes back payments to Gazprom -- but the heavy-handed response of both governments has turned world opinion against them, and rightfully so. What confuses most people is the way in which Russia and Israel conduct their foreign policies -- with nary a thought of how they are perceived by their peers. It's not enough for Russians to explore and lay claim to a ridge beneath the North Pole -- they have to brazenly plant a Russian flag there. It's not enough for Israel to negotiate the release of its soldiers taken hostage by Hezbollah -- it has to invade and rain cluster bombs over southern Lebanon.

Both countries have taken great pains to improve their PR -- Russia has hired Ketchum, a U.S. communications firm; Israel has blanketed Western airwaves with dapper English-speaking officials to explain their case -- but no amount of spin can whitewash the damage done to their reputations abroad. The problem, like Nicholson's character from The Departed, is they don't do subtle.

Comments

[NetProphet]

THE COMPARISON IS RIDICULOUS

Russia isn't bombing Ukraine - merely carrying out a bit of sanctioning; something the USA does constantly.

Israel, in case you haven't noticed, is perpetually bombing over-populated areas and carrying out the usual tit-for tat policies. (You'd think they'd try new tactics, BY NOW!) I hope Sec./State Clinton has a few punches up her sleeves - - and at least tries some sanctioning on Israel like even George the 41st had done witholding some financial aid for the settlements that were illegally placed in the West Bank)

In short, the comparison was absurd. This is the UKRAINE - not GEORGIA, Mr. Beehner. Thank You.

[Tulka2]

This story is under-reported and you did a good job. Thanks. Here's one big difference to my mind... I, as an American citizen, am not paying in any way for suffering imposed on the Ukraine. In my name and with my money, Israel, the fourth largest military in the world, is pounding a refugee camp the population of which is at least half children.

I take your point about unhinged bullies. Aren't they ALWAYS.....? Unhinged, i mean.

[UKOH]

The story is under-reported only if you have a USA centric view of the world. I completely agree with you that if you take just mainstream media in the USA, you would hardly ever know that there is a gas and heating crisis between Russia and Ukraine that is leaving large sections of Europe without heat in the depth of Winter.

The story IS reported extensively on non-USA based media. One example is BBC World News (which is shown on BBC America in the USA). The crisis is reported on regularly. Other examples of neglect by USA mainstream media are the world wide impact of the economic downturn (far worse in other countries than here) and the criminal excesses of the Mugabe regime in Zimbabwe.

Look I do not mind large sections of USA news reporting being about events in the USA but other major world stories should be covered as well. Instead much of USA News concentrates on total trivia. A perfect example is right now when large sections of mainstream media seem to be more concerned about Oprah Wnfrey's weight gain than the major crisis facing the world!

Here's a suggestion. Lets have news programs which report real news and magazine programs that deal with celebrity, home advice and health issues (for example). Right now we only have magazine programs masquerading as serious news programs that have a tiny bit of real news thrown in to try to justify the deception.

[Magenta]

Writer forgets to mention that israel often attacks and arrests Arabs with no proof and jurisdiction, prompting the Hamas to fight back in return.

When Israel tried to starve the Gaza Strip during the socialled ceasefire and attacks Arab civilians, Hamas have the right to retaliate against Israel, an military regime that has embarked on military aggression and illegal occupation of land and which has received 22 UN resolutions condemning Israeli actions, 7 more than Saddam's.

Indeed, there is no basis for comparison because Israel has always been the aggressor in their zel to set up a Jewish state for Jewish immigrants from Europe. Even the UN archives support this simple fact.

[NetProphet]

Bravo MAGENTA!

Say it like it is. You oughta have a column!!!

[Boringat]

Why dont we give Texas to the Israelis and let the Palestinians get back to olive-growing?

[Tulka2]

How about Utah? That would be delicious on so many levels.

[bigkay]

GREAT IDEA ,I HAD THE SAME THOUGHT!!!

[wreckinball]

No comparison between the two situations. Hamas has no right to lob missiles at Israel. Russia has every right to withhold gas shipments until they are paid

[abluevoice]

You are perpetuating your own myth, especially about Israel getting a bad image for trying to eradicate a malignant and terminal cancer Hamas, who's non negotiable quest is to destroy the body that is the country of Israel. If you had a clue, you would be writing about Hamas' reputation as sub-human terrorists who don't give a damn about the plight of the civilian Palestinians they use as shields.

[jackbutler5555]

If the Ukraine fired missiles into Russia, the Russians would respond in the same way the Israelis are responding to Gaza. And, of course, the Russians find fault with the Israeli response, despite the fact that the Russians decided it was right to invade and occupy another country -- Georgia. Geogia didn't even fire missiles into Russia. Russia's being opportunistic, of course, in the hope of currying favor with the world's Muslims. Even so, their own treatment of Muslims within their borders and even in Afghanistan undermines their sincerity. What also contributes to this strategic blunder is that most of the Arab world wants to see Hamas obliterated and has little regard for the Russian suppression of Chechnya.

[arvay]

This comparison is not accurate.

Georgia didn't fire inaccurate missiles that caused little real damage or harm into Ossetia, it launched a full-scale bombardment and invasion. Unlike the hapless Gazans, Georgia has, or had, plenty of US and Israeli weapons. Many Arabs mocked the effectiveness of Georgia's Israeli advisors, comparing their performance to Lebanon in 2006, but nevertheless Georgia's attack was substantial and very deadly.

So the Russian response was proportionate. They pushed the invaders out and punished their MILITARY, just as the US-led coalition pushed Saddam back out of Kuwait.

[tammylynch]

South Ossetia is in GEORGIA not Russia. It's recognized by international borders as sovereign Georgian territory. Even Russia recognized them, and technically still does.

[RonMar]

This article is filled with invalid comparisons. Picking it apart 1st flaws 1st:
“Israel accused of bullying … smaller neighbors” – Israel has smaller neighbors let alone bullies them is laughable. 1) Islamists claim 1.7-1.9B worldwide vs. some 13M Jews. 2) Tiny Israel with just over 7M Jews, Palestinians and others is far outnumbered by Muslims in depth – Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Egypt and further. 3) Muslims have aimed to take over or destroy Israel, murder all Jews since the 7th C.
“Israel's actions … are aimed at preventing … attacks by Hamas [and several other Gaza-based, Islamic terrorist groups], which refuse[s] to recognize Israel.” – 1)Islamic jihadists refuse to recognize and they attack Israel, as Lionel admits. They have done so since the establishment of Modern Israel pursuant to UN Resolution 181 of 1947 that provided for Israeli and Palestinian States. 2) Comparing Israel’s national defense with the Russian/Ukraine tiff over “higher [gas] prices” is ludicrous. 3) Lionel has to be a mind reader to imagine Israel’s national defense is merely a political ploy. He makes no claim to being such a gifted psychic.
“likely to achieve … opposite … goals -- while … com[ing] off … like … bullies” – Israel may achieve [its] goals by persisting in defeating Islamic jihadists.13M Jews, about 6M in Israel bullying 1.7-1.9B Muslims and the millions within Israel, the West Bank, Gaza Strip and around Israel. Ridiculous!

[dalia04]

Israel "legitimate grievances" with Hamas are the preview of what the US and Europe will have in the near future or already experience ( at least in Europe) with Islamic terrorism. All the terror methods that were used against Israel were transferred into other countries after getting approval by the human rights community as legitimate weapons because they were directed at Israel and because Israel "deserves" it.

Wake up , the western governments and now some Arab government side with Israel not because they like it but because they understand that this is basically a cultural war between Taliban type of culture propagated by Iran and the west. The Palestinian authority sides with the West , Hamas sides with Iran. This is the reason for their hostilities and the closer Israel gets to an agreement with the Palestinian authority the crazier the Hamas is.

[RonMar]

Dismantling further flaws in this article: “Sending troops into Gaza … solidifies … support for Hamas.” – So what, if Hamas is neutralized along with other Islamic jihadists in the Gaza Strip.
“Israel [has] grievances--Hamas lobs missiles into Israeli population centers.” – 1) You got that right Lionel. 2) “Ukraine … owes back payments to Gazprom.” – You are not really dumb enough to compare missiles lobbed into Israel with owing back payments are you?
“It's not enough for Israel to negotiate … release of … soldiers taken hostage by Hezbollah -- it has to invade and rain cluster bombs over … Lebanon.” – Surely you jest. 1) The dead bodies of the soldiers were returned to Israel. 2) Hezbollah rocketed Israel for 34 days in ’06 murdering Jews, Palestinians and others of all ages with some 4000 rockets, not one hitting anywhere near a military target.
“Israel has blanketed … airwaves with dapper English-speak[ers] to explain their case -- spin can[not] whitewash the damage done to their reputations abroad.” – It’s time Israel countered Islamic propaganda with truth, but I doubt they care much about “reputations abroad” since their survival is at stake.

[freddiefranks]

One major flaw in the reasoning above is that although both Israel and Russia are overstepping what can be considered reasonable levels of response to their provocation, the Russian-Ukrainian business is just that: business, albeit with heavy political effects. The Israeli-Hamas conflict is war. That said, that the strategies will backfire is most likely true. Already now people are shouting "war-crimes" against Israel, while old Cold-War fears of the "Russian bear" are stronger than ever. It stinks to be the overdog, because the crowds pounce on you at any opportunity.

I'd also like to add 2 notes that are largely irrelevant.
1. Stalin was Georgian. He as responsible for the death of many Ukrainians, true. Also Georgians. And Russians. This was from the high seat of power in Moscow. This is not why Ukrainians hate Russians.
2. I'm Swedish. Our Minister of Foreign Affairs used to own options in Gazprom, which he sold once his appointment was announced. Imagine if Hillary Clinton or Condi Rice had owned similar options. Although they may have sold them years ago, who doesn't think there'd be a public outcry?

[Bonobo]

If I may paraphrase Clauswitz, war is merely the continuation of business by other means. Regarding Israel-Palestine, the fundamental source of conflict, obscured by religious and nationalist rhetoric, is too many people, too few resources. Russia and Ukraine have not yet come to blows largely because they aren't in quite so desperate a situation as Israel-Palestine. I agree with the author that the form of the behavior is similar, it is simply the degree which is different.

[iratior]

I think it's a mistake to write as though Israel or Russia as a whole is responsible for problems. It's specific political factions in charge of the countries that are behind the events. Moreover, the Olmert administration's conduct in Gaza deserves far more criticism than what the Medvediev administration has done. Cutting off the gas supply to Europe hardly compares with bombings that kill hundreds of civilians. Besides, it's high time the Europeans started making better use of solar, wind, and geothermal energy to meet their needs. Having to do without natural gas could be a blessing in disguise. And what if Medvediev did seek to manipulate Ukrainian politics? I suspect that the drop in gasoline prices before the last election was somehow rigged, in hopes that it would help John McCain.

[VANDERGRAAFK]

To be fair? Careful with analogies they can be extremely misleading. Let's see. Ukraine is an independent nation-state whose existence as such may or may not please Russia, especially if the Ukraine seeks to a) join the European Union or b) join NATO. Gaza is a garrison ghetto ruled by a group that usurped power after winning a plurality of the vote in 2006, skims profit from weapons, food and commercial smuggling. Gaza's existence as an "independent" Palestinian entity was facilitated by Israel's withdrawal in 2005. None of Hamas's spokespeople has ever recognized the existence of Israel. At best, it has equivocated by asking which Israel it should recognize. Does the Ukraine deny Russia's right to exist or question which Russia, the Russia before Khrushev's gift of the Crimea to the Ukraine, or the Russia thereafter?

About the only thing that makes sense in this essay is that certain tactics might backfire do to the collateral damage. Putin's Russia wants to create a natural gas OPEC. Ukraine is broke. Let's have Gazprom squeeze the Ukraine for more money. When the Ukraine puts forth a counteroffer, Gazprom ups the ante. The Ukraine may or may not have siphoned off gas. Russia cuts all gas deliveries via the Ukraine. And what has this got to do with weapons smuggling?

[NetProphet]

Israel shouldn't be recognized - not in its PRESENT form! A lot of "cleaning up" needs to be done and UN internatio­nally-reco­gnized resolutions need to be obeyed by Israel. Remember the WORLD is watching........not just the USA.

[havira]

Not sure the how Mt. Beehner got mixed up with an economic/political issue of Russia and a terrorist life-threatening situation in Gaza. Ever see the pictures of Israelis killed and injured, buildings flattened, people running for their lives on a daily basis? Not exactly the same thing as not getting paid for the oil you produce. How is it that Israel over reacts and the Palestinians are just down trodden victims of who exactly, Israel or their real enemy Hamas? Hamas doesn't over react, they just kill and terrorize. Got more logic, Mr. Beehner?

[Bonobo]

No, no, no. You are getting confused by differences in degree as opposed to differences in kind. Yes, the Israel-Palestine situation is much hotter, but the key point being made is why Israel and Russia act without regard to international blowback. As the US has also for the last sixteen years.

[freddiefranks]

Well, since Israel only attacks so fiercely because they know the US will always (I mean always) be behind them, the comparison to US foreign policy comes pretty easily. Russia used to be the center of an international powerhouse, and are still treated as such, but only in the frame of mind that they are a threat.

The Cold War is coming back, apparently. Heck, people even tried labeling Obama as "communist" about 3 months ago! In light of this I can honestly understand Russia (though not condone all their actions) for not wanting to appear deferential to US and EU condemnations, especially considering the arrogant and reckless foreign policy the US has had recently.

[RonMar]

Bonobo perhaps in your brilliance you can explain to us then why Israel has dropped leaflets and made cell phone calls immediately before airstrikes or other national defense actions - the leaflets and calls warning "civiilans" in the Gaza Strip to get clear of Hamas and their storage piles in mosques, schools and homes.

[onlyhere]

Pro-Israel argument revolves on Two points

Israel's enemy for the moment is unreasonable sub-human neanderthal like, no reason or argument will ever work, antisemitic , zealous and intrinsically violent.

Second the conflict revolves around rockets fired unto them a week ago or disgruntled youth throwing rocks at tanks or F-16's.

No talk of Settlements please, it's the ROCKETS, no 11,000 Civilians Tortured and Jailed in Israel right now, 700 Roadblocks, an appartheid wall meandering through backyards and tearing apart families and the list of genocide is long and bitter.

No please its the Rockets.